Chapter 3

The long silvery Aspen catkins fluttered in the morning air. Isobel hiked through the forest, surrendering her grandfather’s cabin. The crisp spring air cooled her heated body. Shrugging off the dark green camouflage hunting coat that used to belong to her grandfather, she paused by a fallen tree. She placed the hunting rifle on the bark of the tree and her backpack on the ground. Removing a sketch pad and charcoal pencils out of the backpack, Isobel sat on the fallen tree. Breathing in the fresh, cold and dry air, she started to sketch the small wildflower bud that was pushing itself out of the ground. Moss covered the nearby ground. Hearing the snap of a tree branch, she quickly grabbed the rifle and pointed it in the direction of the noise.

“Don’t shoot, I’m unarmed,” a male voice said.

Isobel squinted at the tightly packed trees, searching for the person that the voice belonged to. A tall, lean, but muscular man stepped through the shadows of the forest and walked toward her. Dressed in worn out jeans, a funnel shirt that was a size too small, and black trainers, he stopped a few feet from her. His chestnut hair was tousled like he had just gotten out of bed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, placing his hands by his side. “I’m not a threat. You can place your rifle down now.”

Holding the rifle steady, Isobel snorted. “Yeah, and I’ll just believe you. A total stranger.”

The corners of his sensual full mouth upturned and quivered as if he was trying not to smile. “My name is Kyle.” He tilted his head toward the southern part of the forest. “I live in a small settlement not far from here. We are neighbors with Mr Kilian. I saw you leave his cabin. Did you know him?”

Tightening her hold on the gun, her almond eyes narrowed further. “Were you following me?”

“No, I just happened to pass by. Since you know we are neighbors, will you put the gun down now?”

She lowered the gun, but still held it close against her. Ready to fire if she needed to. “You knew my grandfather?”

Wrinkles of surprise appeared on his forehead. “Your grandfather?”

“Yes. Why? Is it because I’m black and he was a pale old man with blue eyes?” She grinned as a ruddy color appeared on his cheeks. “You are not the only one to show surprise every time I was with him. He was my mother’s father.”

“I’ve just never seen you, that’s all.”

“I didn’t come out here that much. I’m from Seattle.”

Kyle woke up in the forest to see her leave the cabin carrying a gun and a backpack. Still in his wolf form, he rose up from the ground and closely followed her. He knew that his father would be looking for him again this morning, but he padded forward, wanting to see what she was up to, hoping that in her haste she wouldn’t shoot a pack member. When he saw her settle on the fallen tree, he shifted back to his human form and raced to a carved out of rock where they placed clothes for emergencies. This was an emergence. He needed to talk to her. Know her name. His wolf pushed at the surface, wanting to lay claim on her. His impatience made Kyle anxious, wondering what his wolf would do. The funnel shirt was tight around his chest area, but he quickly buttoned it and swiftly moved to where he left her. Here she was, hugging the gun to her ample breasts that pushed against her knitted sweater. Looking at them move with her breaths made him lose concentration. Even though the bullet from the gun wouldn’t kill him, it would hurt like a motherfucker, so he had to focus. One wrong move and he was sure she’ll shoot him. Moving his eyes downward to the dark blue jeans that encased thick thighs didn’t help either. His cock hardened, and he hoped that the jeans were loose enough not to show anything. Kyle decided to gaze at her eyes that studied him just as hard. The spring sun lightened her dark brown eyes to amber like light was shining through her. He blinked. She was absolutely beautiful. His wolf had chosen wisely, he thought. His wolf growled in approval.

“Now, claim her,” his wolf said.

“Not yet”, he said, trying to reason with his animalistic side. “We have to woo her to us”.

Having appeased his wolf, it settled down, biding its time.

Smiling, he inched closer. “So, what’s your name?”

“Oh. How rude of me. Telling you where I’m from and not who I am.” She held out the hand that wasn’t clenching the gun. “I’m Isobel Green. Nice to meet you. I guess?” A nervous chuckle left her heart-shaped lips.

Kyle clasped her hand, and electricity zapped straight to his groin. Turning his hard cock into a steel rod. He wanted to taste her mouth. Stop her laugh with a sizzling kiss. He shook his head. He had to get it together. “Nice to meet you, Isobel.” Kyle pushed out the words so that he didn’t seem like a weirdo staring at her. He held her hand a little too long that she started to pull her hand out of his, but he tightened his hold. Not wanting to let go of her yet. Seeing an uneasy glint in her eyes, he released her hand.

“Mr Kilian’s cabin has been empty for a few months. It surprised me to see someone leave his property.”

Her shoulders slumped and her face turned downwards. “My grandfather left his cabin to me. I’m here to pack up his stuff. And hopefully get some inspiration for my work. Granddaddy used to say magic ran down these mountains. I guess I want some of that magic.”

Isobel’s body stiffened and her face turned red. “Gosh, I think I said too much to a total stranger. I’ll chuck it down to being alone in the cabin for too long.”

The whiff of sadness mixing with her enticing scent agitated him. He wanted to hold her. Comfort her. Kyle reached out but halted his hand. She was like a skittish deer. One move and she’ll bolt away.

“I’m sorry for your loss. Mr. Kilian was a great neighbor. He is missed.”

A sad smile crossed her face. “Thank you Kyle. It’s nice to talk with someone who knew him.”

His wolf stood up and wiggled around in joy and excitement. Hearing her say his name in her light and pleasant voice was like a bundle of kindling in his gut, setting him aflame.

“Um,” he cleared his throat, looking around the clearing to center himself again. His eyes caught on the sketch pad laying on the bark of the fallen tree. A half done sketch of a wildflower on it.

“You were here sketching?”

Isobel’s hand grazed her tawny colored hair with highlights bundled up in a high ponytail. “Yes. I, uh, was doing a still life painting.”

Kyle’s head dipped to the rifle. “And the gun?”

“Oh. This?” She placed the gun against the tree. “Protection. Yesterday, I saw an unnaturally large wolf. I’m thinking wildlife around this area must be huge, so…” her hand trailed down the tip of the rifle. “I’m really not much of a hunter, but my granddaddy taught me how to shoot.”

His wolf emitted a displeased growl that had the gun with her because she saw him yesterday. Kyle agreed with his wolf. He didn’t like the fact that she was scared of him. He pressed his lips tightly as he lowered his head. “We have bears and wolves in this area. It’s best to be cautious, but don’t go shooting everything you deem dangerous.”

Isobel smirked. “I didn’t shoot you?”

“I’ll never hurt you Isobel. You’ll never have to worry about that.”

Isobel gazed into his chocolate eyes that watched her intently. A golden ring appeared around his irises before disappearing, and she wondered if her artistic mind had made it up. He looked at her like he wanted to see into her soul.

“That’s such a strong statement to make. We hardly know each other,” she said.

“Because it’s the truth. And when you get to know me, you’ll know I’ll never lie to you.”

She didn’t know what to make of him. Seeing him walk out of the forest had frightened her, but being in his presence had calmed her. And she felt that she could believe him. As ludicrous as it may seem.

She dropped her gaze. “I think I should go back to the cabin.” She started packing up the sketch pad and pencils into the backpack. When she slung the bag onto her back, Kyle grabbed it and carried it.

“Um, you don’t have to do that?”

“I know. I want to. Let me help.”

His boyish grin made her heart flip in her chest. Her cheeks heated, and she looked down to the fallen leaves and moss covered ground. She thought she heard a wolf growling, making her swivel her head, looking for it. But all she saw was Kyle.

She turned to walk toward her grandfather’s cabin. The rifle slung over her shoulder by its strap.

Kyle quietly followed her. A few steps behind her, his ears alert for any danger but his eyes firmly fixed on her ample behind that wiggled with each step. The muscles around his lower stomach tightened and he let out a low groan. His eyes flicked to the sky as he tried to rein in the budding erection that he felt coming. He didn’t want to scare her with a boner while they were walking in the forest. His wolf prowled impatiently, wanting to claim her now.

They reached her grandfather’s cabin and paused by the wooden porch steps. “Thanks for walking with me. I would have been fine, but I appreciate the company. I’ve been alone for a few weeks here and speaking to another person is nice,” Isobel said as she stepped on the lower step that creaked under her weight. Stepping off it, she tilted her head downward and shifted her gaze to the steps. “I’ve been meaning to call someone to fix the steps.”

Kyle’s eyebrows creased. “Yeah, that didn’t sound great. Try to stay off them for now.”

Isobel smiled, grabbing her backpack from Kyle. “I still have to get upstairs to the cabin.”

“While, try to not use them as much. Not until they get fixed. For my peace of mind.”

She chuckled. “For a stranger’s peace of mind. I’ll try. Goodbye Kyle.”

Kyle watched her until she closed her front door. His nostrils flared as he took in another shifter’s scent. He turned his head to the left and saw Nick standing by the edge of the forest.

“What are you doing here?” he asked Nick as he brushed past him, leading him away from his mate.

“Your father is looking for you. He’s concerned that this is the second morning you’ve been AWOL from training.”

“He’s got nothing to be concerned about.”

“Maybe not. But who’s the human?”

Kyle growled, turning to shove Nick against the bark of the aspen tree. “Not any of your business. I don’t want to see any wolf sniffing around her, either.”

Nick held up his hands, his palms facing forward. “Okay. Gotcha.”

Kyle glanced at Isobel’s cabin one more time before striding to the wolves’ settlement.